Have you ever heard of Lassen Volcanic National Park? If you answered “No”, you are not alone. Lassen is 1 of 9 different California national parks, and tends to get overlooked due to its remoteness in Northern California. But we’re here to tell you, and show you, why this national park needs to be on your bucket list. So here’s our ultimate guide to Lassen Volcanic National Park!
- LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK MAP
- WHERE IS LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK LOCATED?
- ABOUT LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK
- ENTRY TO LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK
- LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK ENTRANCES
- HIKES IN LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK
- OTHER THINGS TO DO IN LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK
- PLACES TO STAY IN LASSEN NATIONAL PARK
- PLACES TO STAY NEAR LASSEN NATIONAL PARK
- BEST TIME TO VISIT LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK
- HOW MUCH TIME IS NEEDED
- OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER
- MAP OF CALIFORNIA
- ULTIMATE GUIDE TO LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK
LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK MAP
Check out our map below to not only see exactly where some of the places in this article are located, but over 500 other points of interest in California as well!
WHERE IS LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK LOCATED?
We mentioned above that Lassen is a relatively remote national park in California, and this couldn’t be more true. Lassen is located in the far northern part of California roughly 4 hours from the Oregon border. The closest major city is San Francisco, and it’s about a 5 hour drive away, or Reno/Tahoe which are also about 4 hours away. This remoteness tends to deter people from visiting. The good news, is there is not only a ton to do IN Lassen Volcanic National Park, but also in the surrounding areas.
DRIVE FROM:
- SAN FRANCISCO: 5 hours
- RENO/TAHOE: 4 hours
- PORTLAND: 8 hours
ABOUT LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK
Lassen Volcanic National Park is named after Peter Lassen, one of the first settlers in the area who found a path (Lassen Trail) through the mountains. And if you aren’t familiar with Lassen Volcanic National Park, and it wasn’t obvious, Lassen is most known for its volcanoes and volcanic landscapes. There are 4 different types of volcanoes on our planet (Shield, Plug, Dome and Cinder Cone), and Lassen has all 4 of them! It’s the only place you can find all 4 in one place. The last eruption that occurred, was in 1917 when Lassen Peak erupted. But don’t fret, we are not in any imminent danger of these volcanoes erupting, at least not in our lifetimes.
ENTRY TO LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK
Good news! No reservations or timed entries required! Also good news, no long lines of vehicles waiting to enter the park! Not having to worry about timed entry reservations or lines of vehicles, makes visiting this park so much easier than that some of its sibling parks. There is however still an entry fee, and depending on when you visit, the price may vary.
During non-winter months (May-November), Lassen has a standard 7-day vehicle pass for $30. If you plan to visit during the winter months (December-April), the price for the same 7-day vehicle pass is only $10. But there is a very good reason for this, which we’ll touch in below in the best time to visit section. If you are someone who lives in Northern California (or the surrounding area) and would like to visit Lassen often, they do have a $55 annual pass that you can get as well.
If you are someone like us who is either on a mission to visit every single National Park in the U.S., or plans to visit more than 2 or 3 U.S. national parks per year, then we’d highly recommend getting the America The Beautiful Pass. For $80, this annual pass gives you full access to all 63 National Parks in the U.S., as well as any federal recreational sites that charge a fee for entry. Stay at 3 National Parks and this easily pays for itself.
LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK ENTRANCES
There are a number of different areas where you can enter the park, but there are only two official entrances and they are both located on the western side of the park. One is the Northwest Entrance which is near Manzanita Lake and includes the historic Loomis Museum which is only open during the summer. The other is the Southwest Entrance which is where the main Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center is located. This entrance and visitor center are open all year long.
HIKES IN LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK
For being on of the smaller, more remote and less popular parks, there is a ton to do in this park, no matter how experienced you are. So let’s get in to all the fun and unique things there are to do in Lassen Volcanic National Park!
SULPHUR WORKS
If you’re coming in to the park from the southwest entrance, Sulphur Works is the first thing you’ll see after passing the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center. It’s one of the most popular and accessible areas within the park. Sulphur Works in Lassen Volcanic National Park showcases bubbling mud pots, steaming fumaroles, and colorful mineral deposits in an accessible roadside location. This is also one of the only areas in the park that remains open year-round.
*Disclaimer: While this is one of the easiest and most accessible areas of the park, it can also be one of the more dangerous areas due to the unsafe ground. So please remain on the designated paths and do not venture off on your own. People have been severely injured in the past by not staying on the paths.
- DIFFICULTY – Easy
- LENGTH – 0.0mi / km
- PET FRIENDLY – Yes!
CINDER CONE
This hike is no joke. But the payoff at the end is WELL WORTH IT. Cinder Cone is named as such due to being a Cinder Cone volcano. It’s one of the few volcanoes you can actually hike up to in the park. If you choose not to hike up to the top, the trail is very easy and well-maintained (roughly 2.5mi / 4.0km roundtrip). If you do attempt to brave the massive elevation incline, you’ll be looking at closer to 4.0mi / 6.4km roundtrip. But you’ll have incredible views of both Lassen Peak, Lassen National Forest and painted dunes! Which we’ll get in to next.
- DIFFICULTY – Moderate to Hard
- LENGTH – 2.5-4.0mi / 4.0-6.4km
- PET FRIENDLY – No
PAINTED DUNES
This is more a bi-product of doing the Cinder Cone Trail, but felt it needed it’s own listing. The Cinder Cone Trail splits in to two paths at the base of the cone. One goes STRAIGHT up the cone, and the other wraps around the back. Both are moderate to strenuous, so there’s no easy path up. But if you aren’t keep on going straight up, the path around the back would be better.
When hiking to the cone, and even up the front, you can’t really see the dunes. It’s not until you either get to the top, or get around to the backside of the cone that you get the best views. And oh are they worth the hike! These painted dunes, named so due to the mixture of tan and pink/red colors, are a result of the volcanic elements surrounding this cinder cone volcano. Weather can definitely play a role in just how visible and colorful these dunes appear, we’d recommend going when the sun is up and shining for the best views.
- DIFFICULTY – Moderate to Hard
- LENGTH – 2.5-4.0mi / 4.0-6.4km
- PET FRIENDLY – No
LASSEN PEAK TRAIL
The other volcano that you can hike in the park is Lassen Peak, and is also incredibly challenging. It is a 5.1mi / 8.2km out and back hike with an elevation incline of 2,000ft / 600m. Yikes! But if you’re looking to go home with a story of saying you hiked a volcano, this is one way to do it!
- DIFFICULTY – Hard
- LENGTH – 5.1mi / 8.2km
- PET FRIENDLY – No
ALTERNATIVE HIKES TO DO IN LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK
OTHER THINGS TO DO IN LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK
DRIVE THE SCENIC HIGHWAY
Driving through the entire park will require visiting during non-winter months, but it is the best way to truly see and experience the entire park. There are tons of pullouts, vista points and overlooks, lakes and so much more right off the main park highway. And at 30mi / 48km long, it can easily be a full-day experience depending on how much you decide to pull over for.
ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY
If you own a DSLR or mirrorless camera, then Lassen National Park is a playground for astrophotography. While it isn’t currently a designation Dark Sky Park, they are working through the process to become one! But because there aren’t any major cities nearby, the night skies absolutely light up with not only stars, but the Milky Way also! You can literally see it with your eyes. But put your camera on a tripod, and set a long exposure, and you’ll get some incredible night sky photos!
And if you aren’t familiar with photographing with a DSLR or mirrorless camera, check out our Beginners Guide!
ALTERNATIVE ACTIVITIES
And speaking of the scenic highway, and things to do and see right off of it, make sure to check out Emerald Lake! And for a full list of hikes in the park, you can check this page HERE.
PLACES TO STAY IN LASSEN NATIONAL PARK
Lassen Volcanic National Park offers a variety of accommodations, including campgrounds, rustic cabins, and nearby lodges, catering to diverse preferences. Visitors can enjoy immersive outdoor stays surrounded by nature or opt for comfort in nearby towns with additional amenities. Choices range from basic tent camping to more developed options featuring utilities, perfect for families, solo adventurers, or groups. Many accommodations provide easy access to park attractions, making them convenient bases for hiking, wildlife viewing, and exploring geothermal wonders. Whether seeking solitude under the stars or modern conveniences, options abound to suit every traveler’s style.
HOTELS IN LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK
Unfortunately, the park itself does not offer any hotel options within the park boundaries. The closest option to a hotel type stay, is the Drakesbad Guest Ranch. There are a number of other lodging options outside of the park, as well as camping options inside the park, which we’ll tackle next!
CAMPING IN LASSEN
Camping in Lassen Volcanic National Park includes a variety of options, from developed sites to backcountry adventures. Campgrounds such as Manzanita Lake, Summit Lake North and South, Butte Lake, and Warner Valley offer diverse amenities. Manzanita Lake features potable water, flush toilets, and RV hookups, making it a family-friendly choice, while Butte Lake offers a more rustic setting near volcanic landscapes. Summit Lake campgrounds provide easy access to serene waters and nearby trails, and Warner Valley offers a quiet retreat surrounded by meadows. Backcountry camping is also permitted with proper permits for those seeking solitude and immersive wilderness experiences.
FOR VANLIFERS
If you are a vanlifer like us, and looking for a place to stay in or around the park, then we have some amazing news. Lassen allows visitors to park and sleep overnight in their vehicles at the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center for $10 per night! There are restrooms available, and free wifi inside the visitor center. The parking lot is huge and incredibly quiet. We stayed here 1 night and were 1 of close to 10 vehicles that parked there overnight. Now this is obviously subject to change at any time, so we’d recommend double checking with the park staff before attempting. You can also check apps like iOverlander for recent reviews from other nomads.
PLACES TO STAY NEAR LASSEN NATIONAL PARK
Just outside Lassen Volcanic National Park, visitors can find a range of hotels and lodges offering comfort and convenience. Highlands Ranch Resort in Mill Creek stands out for its charming cottages, farm-to-table dining, and tranquil mountain views. In Chester, Best Western Rose Quartz Inn provides modern amenities and a central location for exploring the park and nearby Lake Almanor. The Village at Childs Meadow offers rustic cabins and motel rooms with on-site dining and easy access to the park’s southwest entrance. These accommodations blend comfort with proximity, making them ideal bases for exploring Lassen’s geothermal wonders and hiking trails.
We opted to stay at a charming Airbnb located in Lake Almanor.
BEST TIME TO VISIT LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK
One of the major benefits of being so remote, is that you don’t have to worry as much about large crowds of people. This applies to lines of vehicles trying to get in, parking lot space, campground availability, and the hiking trails! That being said, there are seasonalities to the park. During the winter, Lassen can receive up to 30ft / 9m of snow. And as a result, much of the scenic highway that runs through the park, closes for the winter, which ultimately removes the ability to do any of the activities we noted above, with the exception of Sulphur Works which is open and accessible year-round.
Our recommendation would be to visit in the spring between late April and June, or fall between August and October.
SEASONS
SPRING
- Avg Low temps: 20ºF / 7ºC
- Avg High temps: 66ºF / 16ºC
SUMMER
- Avg Low temps: 37ºF / 3ºC
- Avg High temps: 82ºF / 28ºC
FALL
- Avg Low temps: 35ºF / 2ºC
- Avg High temps: 75ºF / 24ºC
WINTER
- Avg Low temps: 15ºF / -9ºC
- Avg High temps: 50ºF / 10ºC
HOW MUCH TIME IS NEEDED
How much time you need to plan for in a place, is one of the most important questions to answer when planning a trip. Luckily in this case, this National Park is not massive, making it relatively easy to cover a lot of ground in a smaller amount of time. Based on our visits and experience, we feel 2-3 days (think weekend getaway) is a perfect amount of time to cover most or all of the activities we mentioned above. If you are looking to make a longer trip out of it, you could either spread out the activities, maybe rent one of the cabins or an Airbnb, and have an easy-going week.
If you are more keen to making a longer trip out of it, we’d recommend venturing further out and doing some activities in the surrounding areas of the park. We’ll get to that below in a bit.
OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER
The main things to consider with this park, are really the climate & weather, and lodging. As you can see above, the temperatures can get very hot during the day, and very low overnight, making non-lodging camping tough. And with the amount of snow Lassen gets during the winter, you’ll probably want to avoid coming during the winter months. Aside from this, Lassen Volcanic National Parks is one of the easier parks to visit in our minds.
MAP OF CALIFORNIA
Want to see all of the different things to do in Lassen Volcanic National Park? If so, this map is for you. Not only does our interactive map of California have ALL the details and location info for the locations and activities in this article, but it also has over 500 other points of interest in California in it. With all of the location specific details and information like GPS location, dog-friendliness, cost, and more, as well as an itinerary creator, this map is the perfect trip planning companion.
ULTIMATE GUIDE TO LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK
Lassen Volcanic National Park is a captivating destination offering diverse landscapes, unique geothermal features, and endless opportunities for adventure. Whether you’re hiking through volcanic terrain, marveling at bubbling mud pots, or stargazing under pristine skies, the park promises unforgettable experiences for all visitors. With a variety of lodging, camping, and nearby accommodations, you can tailor your trip to suit your style and comfort. No matter how you choose to explore, Lassen’s raw beauty and serene wilderness will leave you inspired. Start planning your journey today, and let Lassen’s natural wonders ignite your sense of adventure!
And if you’re looking for some other Northern California or National Park inspiration, check out some of our other California and National Park articles:
- HOW TO HIKE THE HEART LAKE TRAIL IN MOUNT SHASTA
- WATERFALLS IN CALIFORNIA YOU MUST VISIT
- 20 OF THE BEST FREE THINGS TO DO IN CALIFORNIA
- 12 TOWNS TO VISIT ON THE CALIFORNIA COAST
- 9 WAYS TO VIEW GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE
- 10 NATIONAL PARKS IN THE U.S. YOU PROBABLY DIDN’T KNOW EXISTED
Let us know what you thought of this, and if you plan on making a trip to Lassen Volcanic National Park in the near future, down below in our comments!
If you aren’t following us on Instagram, then check us out there as this will be the best place to follow our van life journey and adventure!
Thanks for stopping by! – Ryan & Katy
